Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity
Background
- Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent commonly used to treat supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias
- Iodine-containing compound with large volume of distribution
- Tends to accumulate in several organs, including lungs
- Can occur with any dose, though incidence has decreased with use of lower doses[1]
- Long half life of amiodarone--> effects can persist long after discontinuation
Pathophysiology
- Amiodarone and metabolites damage lungs:[2]
- Directly by cytotoxic effect, production of toxic O2 radicals[3]
- Indirectly via immunological reaction
Clinical Features
- Dyspnea, particularly with exertion
- Cough
- Low grade fever
- Less common features include: nausea, generalized fatigue, weight loss, pleuritic chest pain [4]
Amiodarone Adverse Effects
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension with older solvent-based formulation. Uncommon with newer aqueous formulation.
- Prolonged QT
- Thyrotoxicosis[5]
- Between 5-20% of patients treated with amiodarone have thyrotoxicosis (higher in areas of iodine deficiency)
- Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism
- It is thought that the iodine load may unmask hyperthyroidism in patients with multinodular goiter and subclinical Graves’ disease
- Drug-induced destructive thyroiditis
- More commonly, the cytotoxic effects of amiodarone destroy thyroid cells, resulting in a release of preformed hormone.
- Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity
- Hyperpigmentation rash
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
- Often clinical diagnosis based on history of amiodarone use, presence of ground glass opacities on CT, and exclusion of alternate diagnoses (such as pneumonia)
- CT chest:
- Ground glass opacities with interstitial or alveolar inflitrations and lung nodules
- Pleural thickening and pleural effusions
Management
- Discontinue amiodarone
- Steroids
Disposition
- Admit the patient for rule out of an infectious etiology.
- Consult with the patient's pulmonologist or cardiologist for recommendations on stopping the amiodarone
See Also
References
- ↑ Wolkove N, Baltzan M. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Can Respir J. 2009;16(2):43-48.
- ↑ Martin WJ, Rosenow EC. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity: Recognition and pathogenesis (Part 2). Chest 1988;93:1242-8.
- ↑ Jessurum GA, Crijns HJG. Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. BMJ 1997;314:619-20.
- ↑ Dusman, RE, Stanton MS, Miles WM, Klein LS, Clinical features of amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity. Circulation. 1990;82:51-59.
- ↑ Rosen's 8th Edition